The Father teachings (Phacho)refer to the writings
of Je Tsongkhapa
and his two main disciples.
The Son teachings (Bhucho)
include authentic exegesesby their direct disciples and the later
scholars of the Geden tradition.

We are so glad to announce that Kyabje Dhakpa Tritul Rinpoche has kindly accepted our request to give some of the very rare teachings. The dates have been set on 13th to the 23rd of December at Sera Mey Monastery, Mysore, Karnataka, South India.

Further more , the Sera Mey Monastery has been so kind to us to find this time for these following teachings in one of their most busy months of the year.

Teachings are set Teachings of Youthok Nyingthig (there are over 53 sections) it includes the empowerments and oral transmissions, also empowerment of Yellow Vajra Bhairava (the wrathful Manifestation of Manjushri) and Word Discourse of White Tara and so on.

Venerable Dhakpa Tulku Rinpoche is the recognized reincarnation of 49th Gaden Tripa Lobsang Dhargye Rinpoche, who was the head of the Geluk tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Shelo Dolma gave birth to Ven. Dhakpa Rinpoche in 1926 in Kongpo in southern Tibet. When he was five years old he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 49th Gaden Tripa by His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama. Soon after his recognition he was sent to Lhasa for his enthronement, accompanied by his parents and his assistants from his previous lifetime.

He then returned to his personal Monastery Dhakpa Namdol Ling in Meldro Gungkar, north of Lhasa, where he took his novice vows and started memorizing his first prayers. When Dhakpa Rinpoche was ten years old he went to Sera Mey Monastic College and spent sixteen years studying Buddhist philosophy. When he was 26 years old he was able to sit for his Geshe examination successfully, and received the highest level attainable, that of Lharampa Geshe. In 1952 Rinpoche joined the Gyuto Tantric College and spent seven years studying all the Tantric rituals receiving the Ngagrampa Degree in Tantric Studies. In 1959 when the Chinese communists took over Tibet, Dhakpa Rinpoche, fled to India.

In 1962 His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama appointed Venerable Dhakpa Rinpoche as the Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery, the first Abbot of the Sera Mey Monastery in exile. Rinpoche took his place as an abbot for three years but due to his poor health he had to leave the Monastery and went to north eastern India for medical treatment in Kalimpong. During his stay in Kalimpong many local Tibetans made strong connections with Rinpoche through his spiritual teachings and blessings. Until 1990 Rinpoche led a very quiet life in Kalimpong and spent much of his time in retreat and meditation. Although Rinpoche is one of the most precious and valuable spiritual teachers living in India, due to his humble nature and personal practices, he was little known outside his area. However, he is in fact one of the very rare teachers holding teachings from the most valuable and precious secret lineages which he received from Pabongka Rinpoche and many other highly realized reincarnated Lamas in Tibet. Throughout his life Rinpoche has actively sought out teachings from spiritual masters from other Tibetan Buddhist traditions which adds to the richness of his understanding and teachings. It is now time for him to pass on all these secret lineages to the young Lamas and Geshes before he gets too old. Therefore, Rinpoche was requested to pass on all those teachings and other Tantric initiations to the young Rinpoches at Sera Mey Monastery, which he does for three months every winter. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has praised Dhakpa Rinpoche for his dedication to his practices and the generosity of his teachings.

Dharamshala: In addition to promoting Buddhism in general and, in particular, overcoming the challenges before the Gaden tradition of (Tibetan) Buddhism, the limitations put on the worship of Dorjee Shugden, by the Great 5th Dalai Lama, (former) Gaden Tripa Ngawang Chokden and many other great lamas down the ages must be sustained conclusively, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said, in his message to a religious conclave of the heads and representatives from all the great monastic seats, here at the Norbulingka today.

Speaking to over 40 lamas and 20 lay observers, the Kalon for Religion and Culture, Lobsang Nyima, spoke candidly on the need to demonstrate more overtly one's support for limiting the worship of Shugden, adding that "the prevailing restrain or expediency on this matter would be highly detrimental."

Participants at the conclave on "the preservation of the sacred lineages of empowerments and oral transmission of the Geden tradition", organised by the Geden Phacho Bucho Project" (Photo: Choesang)

His Holiness has been advising the Tibetan people against worshipping Shugden, saying that it fuels sectarianism among the four different traditions of (Tibetan) Buddhism and that the continued worship of Shugden contributes to the degeneration of Buddhism, to spirit worship. His Holiness therefore urged those who worship Shugden, not to seek teachings from him, as this would violate the spiritual bond between the teacher and his disciples.

Not withstanding the ultimatums it continues to receive every now and then, the exile Tibetan administration remains resolute in discouraging the worship of Shugden, added Kalon Lobsang Nyima, who was representing the exile Tibetan administration at today's conclave on "the preservation of the sacred lineages of empowerments and oral transmission of the Geden tradition", organised by the Geden Phacho Bucho Project.

The project, under the supervision of the UK-based, Lelung Dharma Trust, aims to secure the great legacy of Je Tsong Khapa and his teachings and lineages "for at least the next five decades" by compiling a working reference catalogue to serve as a mastery copy of all the lineages belonging to the Geden tradition; determining a programme and process of oral transmissions; and facilitating the oral transmission of all the known Geden lineages to the most appropriate students.

Kalon Tripa prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, who attended the conclave in his individual capacity, said that when the chain of oral transmissions (that can be traced back to the Buddha) is fractured, it becomes the greatest cause for the eventual extinction of Buddhism. Lauding the pioneering initiatives of Lelung Rinpoche, "on whom His Holiness has placed high hopes", Kalon Tripa said that his administration will continue to provide him its moral support--the easiest of all supports, he added in jest.

(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)

In March 2006, Lelung Rinpoche travelled to India where he discussed the Geden Phacho Bhucho project with a number of important lamas and officials. At this meeting a date was set for a conference on this project. Therefore, Rinpoche has asked some of his venerable friends to work with him in planning this conference.

On 13th June, Lelung Rinpoche will fly to India to complete additional organisational work for the conference. The conference itself will be held on 29th June 2006 in the Norbu Lingkha main temple for the entire day. Approximately fifty great lamas have been invited including Gaden Tri Rinpoche (Head of the Gelug School) and Samdhong Rinpoche. Many other guests have also been invited.

The conference will address the next steps for the project and make our way forward clearer. News and plans will be posted on the Lelung Dharma Trust website as soon as possible after the event, along with introductions and thanks to some of the project supporters.

Geden is another name for the the Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism founded in the 14th century by the highly revered master Je Tsongkhapa. Phacho Bhucho literally means 'Father Son' and refers to the teachings that comprise Tsongkhapa's lineage. During the last forty years, as Tibetans emigrated to different countries around the world, many of these precious teachings have been lost. The aim of the Geden Phacho Bhucho project is to catalogue and preserve the existing lineages of this tradition to ensure they remain accessible to future generations.